Staff Attorney II, Kinship Care/ Immigration

Bet Tzedek Legal Services•Los Angeles, CA

26d•$88,718 - $110,308•Hybrid

About The Position

For over 50 years, Bet Tzedek has been committed to providing free legal services to those who need them most. In that tradition, Bet Tzedek, the House of Justice, offers free legal services to undocumented youth in need of assistance securing Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and adjusting to lawful permanent resident status. Bet Tzedek assists unaccompanied minors under California Probate Court jurisdiction as well as DCFS-supervised children. Bet Tzedek is seeking a determined, organized, and zealous bilingual advocate to serve as counsel for undocumented children, representing unaccompanied children in Immigration Court, USCIS, and if necessary, Board of Immigration Appeals. This position is eligible for Bet Tzedek Legal Services’ hybrid/remote workplace designation. At the discretion of the immediate supervisor, the employee may be required to work in the office or other locations to meet workload/business obligations. Candidates must be in the Southern California region and able to commute if needed.

Requirements

Active member of California State Bar in good standing (required).
At least 2 years of experience in probate guardianship, SIJS-related advocacy, and removal defense (required).
Spanish proficiency and ability to provide written and oral Spanish translation (required).
Demonstrated proficiency with regard to case management skills, substantive knowledge, outreach and education skills, and client advocacy skills (required).
Demonstrated proficiency in providing person-centered, trauma-informed lawyering to undocumented minors or another vulnerable population with a history of trauma (required).
Demonstrated proficiency in training and working with social workers, medical care providers, volunteer attorneys, and students (required).
Demonstrate an understanding and commitment to Bet Tzedek’s mission of equal justice for all and Bet Tzedek’s core values of leadership, community-based advocacy, and innovation.
Candidates should be able to articulate their interest in assisting people of diverse ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, religions, immigration status, physical abilities and ages with varying English-speaking abilities.

Responsibilities

Provide consultations to newly arrived immigrant children and families, in person, two times per month.
Represent caregivers providing care for children in their care through a variety of strategies, including but not limited to providing Probate Court representation in contested and uncontested probate guardianship proceedings.
Advocate on behalf of undocumented minors related to Special Immigrant Juvenile Status matters brought in Probate Court, which may include conducting new client intake, preparing cases for pro bono placement, and/or providing full scope representation in trial and appellate settings.
Advocate on behalf of minors eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status in removal proceedings, adjustment of status, asylum relief, U-visas, T-visas, and applicable appellate venues.
Mentor Pro bono attorneys through guardianship, SIJS and other humanitarian immigration matters.

Benefits

A generous number of paid holidays (up to 21 per year), vacation (up to 20, depending on number of years with agency), and sick days (up to 45) annually.
Personal and floating holidays
Compensatory time for exempt employees.
Various paid leaves
Medical, dental, vision, chiropractic and acupuncture coverage for employees and dependents, with office visit co-pay reimbursement for HMO enrollees.
Life/accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, long-term disability insurance, and Employee Assistance Plan.
Voluntary (employee-contributed) life/AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital confinement, and pet insurance.
Employer-contributed profit-sharing plan.
Employee-contributed 403(b) plan.
Healthcare and childcare flexible spending accounts.
Commuter transit and/or parking benefits.